Sunset Summit, the co-op climbing game Joe Fender developed with Andrew Fender and published by Future Friends Games, launched on Steam on September 9, 2026. Fender said the project began in 2021 after DEVOUR, and that PEAK's success restored his confidence to finish it.
Joe Fender is one of the two developers behind Sunset Summit, a climbing action game made with Andrew Fender and published by Future Friends Games. The project was announced during the PC Gaming Show 2026 on June 8, with a demo covering the first map, Elder Rock Mountain, available at that time and a release planned for PC via Steam within the year. The announcement framed the game as a departure for the Fender brothers, who previously developed the co-op horror game DEVOUR.
The scope described in June carried into the finished release. Sunset Summit supports one to eight players as elderly mountaineers trying to reach the summit of floating islands before sunset, using pickaxes, ropes, and item delivery drones while managing stamina and checkpoints. The full version was set to include four maps with four routes each, and character customization offers eight elderly characters, among them a former tax fraud investigator and a washed-up country musician.
Between announcement and launch, the details were restated with some differences in wording. The September release lists 16 climbing courses over four floating islands, with multiple routes per course and standard gear of an ice axe and rope, and it adds drone-delivered items such as parasols, pogo sticks, suspicious medicine, and canned boiled beans. The launch confirms solo play and online co-op for up to eight players, proximity voice chat and radio transceivers, a photo mode, Japanese language support, and a price of 580 yen.
Joe Fender's own account of the timeline is the one piece of the story that only the release coverage carries: development began in 2021 after DEVOUR, and watching PEAK succeed gave him the confidence to finish Sunset Summit.
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Sep 9
Future Friends Games released the climbing action game Sunset Summit on Steam on September 9, 2026. Developed by Joe Fender and Andrew Fender, the PC title supports solo play and online co-op for up to eight players. Players control a grandpa and grandma who must reach the summit before sunset across 16 climbing courses spread over four floating islands. Each course offers multiple routes, and players need to pick a path they can finish within the time limit. Standard gear includes an ice axe and rope, while drone delivery can bring odd items like parasols, pogo sticks, suspicious medicine, and canned boiled beans. Falling is not the end, as checkpoints allow players to resume, and the game encourages a climb hard, fall hard approach. Communication tools include proximity voice chat and radio transceivers, and a photo mode lets players take selfies. The game supports Japanese and is priced at 580 yen. Joe Fender noted that the game began development in 2021 after DEVOUR, and that seeing the success of PEAK restored his confidence to finish the project.
Jun 7
Indie developers Joe Fender and Andrew Fender, along with publisher Future Friends Games, announced the cooperative climbing game Sunset Summit during the PC Gaming Show 2026 on June 8. The game is scheduled for release on PC via Steam within the year, and a demo featuring the first map, Elder Rock Mountain, is available now. Sunset Summit supports one to eight players who take on the role of elderly mountaineers aiming to reach the summit of floating islands before sunset. Players use tools such as pickaxes, ropes, and item delivery drones to climb, while managing stamina and checkpoints. Power-ups like Butter Candy, Sparkling Mushroom, and Beans provide temporary boosts. The game includes proximity voice chat and walkie-talkies for communication. Character customization is available, with eight elderly characters to choose from, including a former tax fraud investigator and a washed-up country musician. The full version will include four maps, each with four routes. The Fender brothers previously developed the cooperative horror game DEVOUR, which sold over seven million copies.